Time is a concept for
some .For others it is a
source of measurement.
For those who detest it, it
is the Eternal vanquisher
and the Universal enemy
of beauty.
Here the poet puts forward the
notion of Time as viewed by a
child, who does not actually
comprehend the idea of time
It also explores the psychology of a child who is
too small to understand his mistake juxtaposed
against a callous teacher who ticks him off for
something beyond his comprehension.
The style of the poetess and her stylistic histrionics are reminiscent of Dylan
Thomas, when she asserts :"Once upon a schooltime". Note that the words
'school' and 'time' are compounded to imply how intricately that part of time
was linked with school.
It may also point to the little kid's
notion of time, for whom activity
defined time, and was not bothered
about time guiding his activities.
Once upon a time, the child had did "Something Very
Wrong". The capitalisation of the word exemplifies the
gravity of the mistake of the kid that is blown out of
proportion for his age .
The fact that the speaker himself forgets what the
"Something Very Wrong" was, points to the frivolity of the
situation.
The teacher was a woman, yet she failed to be
aware of the mentality of the child.
Rather than constructively
criticise him, she does not even
explain to the kid what his error
was.
Her manner was, one based on
logic, one that is guided by cause
and effect.
'Because' he had done something wrong, 'so' he
is punished. Being cross, she forgets that she
hadn't taught him Time.
This drives home the age and
immaturity of a child recklessly
punished into detention.
This drives home the age and
immaturity of a child recklessly
punished into detention.
He is rather scared of the adjective
"wicked"-the criticism he gets from the
teacher.
He does not want to be termed wicked
anymore; this is his primary concern.
He longs for some token of appreciation.
A child attaches significance to things he likes. This explains the Times he
knew: He knew a lot of time: he knew